Act 1 Timeline

The events that led up to and including the war with Aizen, took place over the course of approximately six months during the first year of Ichigo's high school. Ichigo became a Shinigami in the Middle of May[41] on Friday at approximately 7:13 PM[42]. The timeline of Bleach is linked to the Japanese school year with Ichigo acting as Rukia's substitute during the first term of high school (April to mid-July), going to Soul Society during summer break (mid-July to end of August) with the Arrancar invasion and subsequent battles occurring in second term of high school (Beginning of September to late December). It must be noted that Soul Society anticipated that the decisive battle would take place in winter,[43] however, Aizen moved early and the decisive battles are taking place in the middle of October (autumn) instead.[44]

Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Renji Abarai: RematchByakuya orders Renji thrown in jailHanataro spends the night healing Ichigo and discovers that a Hollow mask has appeared on Ichigo's body to protect him from Renji's blow.

Ichigo and his friends spend one week in Soul SocietyRukia informs Ichigo that she is remaining in Soul SocietyUkitake presents Ichigo with a Substitute Shinigami BadgeGroup returns home, where Urahara meets them and apologizes to Ichigo.

While returning to the living world, Ichigo and his friends were once again chased by the Kōtotsu[59]What effect it had on time is unknownEvents resumed with the start of the second semester of school.[60]

Shinji comes to school and introduces himsellf to IchigoAt night, Ichigo leaves his body to Kon and goes to fight a Hollow and encounters and learns of Shinji's true natureShinji offers Ichigo a chance to join the Visored, Ichigo turns him down.

Candice, Giselle, Liltotto, and Meninas get back up as Ichigo prepares to fight all eight Sternritter, only to be interrupted by a beam of light piercing the heavens behind him.Yhwach reveals he intends to invade the Soul King Palace.

Urahara prepares to send Ichigo, Orihime, and Sado to the Soul King Palace.Yoruichi arrives with several bottles containing the large amounts of energy gained from closing the rifts in the Human World.

Hisagi arrives and informs Byakuya that he has also defeated a Sternritter, only for Hisagi to attack him.Hisagi reveals he is under PePe's influence and attacks Byakuya, PePe takes control of Meninas with The Love.

Ichigo, Orihime, Sado, and Yoruichi prepare to depart for the Soul King Palace as the cannon begins to fire.Ganju arrives and announces that he will be joining the group.Ganju reveals that he possesses a map which will allow the group to reach the Soul King Palace.

Ichigo and his friends discover Orihime's disappearance and play along with her captors to free her.

2nd September

Two of the assailants, Kurodo and Noba reveal themselves and kidnap Chad.

2nd September

Ichigo, Renji, and Uryū find Chad and Orihime after a maze game. The female assailant, Ririn, asks them to meet her at the school yard the next day. Ririn and her cohorts are revealed to be Mod-Souls

3rd September

After getting to the schoolyard, Ririn reveals that one of the people in Ichigo's group is actually an imposter, and that they need to guess who's the fake before noon, which is when Ririn "eliminates" the rest of the school populace.

3rd September in Soul society

Captain Jushiro Ukitake sends Captain Sui-Feng to the Human World to investigate a mysterious disappearance. Ukitake closes the Senkaimon for the duration of the investigation.

3rd September

As Ichigo's group tries to figuire out who's the imposter, Ririn begins to kidnap the rest of the school.

3rd September

After Yoruichi Shihōin and Sui-Feng run by, Ichigo guesses that Chad is the imposter. Kurodo reveals to them that they were correct. Ririn challenges them to one final test.

3rd September Evening

Ichigo and his friends are sucked up into a mysterious gate and now have to fight the Mod-Souls to save Chad